Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There are two issues. First, I am committed to making sure the national broadband plan rolls out a long-term solution to those homes and businesses as soon as possible. With regard to the Deputy's specific point on businesses, I was with a business last month in my constituency outside the town of Ballinasloe and its representatives made the same complaint to me, in that they are just outside the intervention area under the Eir commitment agreement. I was able to identify three solutions for them, two of which involved a fibre cable that runs at the edge of their site and the other was a mobile solution, and there were also two additional potential wireless solutions. There are a number of solutions out there and, while they may not be the ideal solutions, they are short-term solutions to deal with these problems.

A broadband officer has been appointed in every local authority and I encourage people to make contact with their local broadband officer to find out what networks are available in those areas. At this stage, there are very few areas that do not have access to some type of broadband service. In regard to mobile broadband services, we are in particular seeking to identify blackspots across the country and find out what work we can do with the mobile companies to address those blackspots, both in regard to voice and data. We are working with the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, on that at present.

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